Neck exercise apparatus

Abstract

A neck exercise apparatus for developing strength, endurance, and flexibility in the neck. The apparatus comprises a leaf spring that is held by a support at each end. The leaf spring and its supports are mounted on a base. The distance between the supports can be adjusted to vary the force necessary to deflect the leaf spring. A gauge block may be placed beneath the center of the spring to measure and to limit the range of motion of the exercise. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a single semielliptical leaf spring replaces the leaf spring and two supports of the preferred embodiment.

We claim: 
     
       1. A neck exercise apparatus, comprising (a) a leaf spring having two ends, one long axis, a midpoint, and one principle plane of flexure, and having a stiffness and a length between said two ends;   (b) a first pivot support supporting said leaf spring at one end of said leaf spring;   (c) a second pivot support supporting said leaf spring along its long axis between said midpoint of said leaf spring and the end of said leaf spring opposite to said first pivot support;   (d) a base retaining said first pivot support and said second pivot support;   (e) an unsupported span of said leaf spring spanning said first pivot support and said second pivot support so that said leaf spring may be flexed towards said base in said leaf spring's principle plane of flexure by pressure applied to said unsupported span of said leaf spring;   (f) means for supporting and retaining said leaf spring by said second pivot support so that said leaf spring may rotate about said second pivot support and so that said leaf spring is free to slide relative to said second pivot support;   (g) means for attaching said leaf spring to said first pivot support so that said leaf spring is prevented from sliding but may rotate about said first pivot support;   (h) means for adjusting said unsupported span of said leaf spring by adjusting the distance between said first and second pivot supports along said base;   (i) a gauge block placed on said base directly under the center of said unsupported span of said leaf spring for limiting and measuring the flexure of said leaf spring towards said base; wherein said stiffness and said length of said leaf spring are such that said leaf spring may be flexed sufficiently to permit exercise of the neck when pressure is applied to said unsupported span of said leaf spring.     
     
     
       2. A neck exercise apparatus, comprising (a) a leaf spring having two ends, one long axis, a midpoint, and one principle plane of flexure, and having a stiffness and a length between said two ends;   (b) a first pivot support supporting said leaf spring at one end of said leaf spring;   (c) a second pivot support supporting said leaf spring along its long axis between said midpoint of said leaf spring and the end of said leaf spring opposite to said first pivot support;   (d) a base retaining said first pivot support and said second pivot support;   (e) an unsupported span of said leaf spring spanning said first pivot support and said second pivot support so that said leaf spring may be flexed towards said base in said leaf spring's principle plane of flexure by pressure applied to said unsupported span of said leaf spring;   (f) means for supporting and retaining said leaf spring by said second pivot support so that said leaf spring may rotate about said second pivot support and so that said leaf spring is free to slide relative to said second pivot support;   (g) means for attaching said leaf spring to said first pivot support so that said leaf spring is prevented from sliding but may rotate about said first pivot support;   (h) means for adjusting said unsupported span of said leaf spring by adjusting the distance between said first and second pivot supports along said base;   (i) a pressure pad slidably mounted between said first pivot support and said second pivot support on said leaf spring; wherein said stiffness and said length of said leaf spring are such that said leaf spring may be flexed sufficiently to permit exercise of the neck when pressure is applied to said unsupported span of said leaf spring.     
     
     
       3. A neck exercise apparatus, comprising (a) a leaf spring having two ends, one long axis, a midpoint, and one principle plane of flexure, and having a stiffness and a length between said two ends;   (b) a first pivot support supporting said leaf spring at one end of said leaf spring;   (c) a second pivot support supporting said leaf spring along its long axis between said midpoint of said leaf spring and the end of said leaf spring opposite to said first pivot support;   (d) a base retaining said first pivot support and said second pivot support;   (e) an unsupported span of said leaf spring spanning said first pivot support and said second pivot support so that said leaf spring may be flexed towards said base in said leaf spring's principle plane of flexure by pressure applied to said unsupported span of said leaf spring;   (f) a pressure pad slidably mounted between said first pivot support and said second pivot support on said leaf spring; wherein said stiffness and said length of said leaf spring are such that said leaf spring may be flexed sufficiently to permit exercise of the neck when pressure is applied to said unsupported span of said leaf spring.